Why Share?

The world we live in undoubtedly requires profound change. However, these changes cannot be addressed in isolation. It is not enough to tackle only one problem, such as the environmental crisis, while neglecting global inequality. Likewise, economic reforms cannot succeed if they fail to take account of the environment and the limits of our planet.

We must therefore address these problems in a comprehensive and interconnected way, since they are closely intertwined and often intensify one another. Poverty, for example, cannot be separated from climate change, migration, political instability, or the lack of access to essential goods.

Is there a solution that could address several complex and interconnected global problems at the same time?

Perhaps the sharing economy offers such a solution. Let us explore why and how.

The sharing economy is an umbrella term for a range of measures and economic models at the local, national, and global levels that, through a fairer distribution of goods and resources, ensure that every person on Earth has access to the necessities required for a dignified life.

Why is this important?

When every person is provided with at least the necessities of life, their life and health are no longer under immediate threat. This means fewer social and economic conflicts, less forced migration, and reduced pressure on the environment. At the same time, it creates greater opportunities for the development of poor, neglected, and degraded communities and regions.

For such a system to become possible, countries must cooperate. Above all, they must share natural resources, food, medicines, scientific knowledge, and technologies more fairly. Such cooperation reduces the likelihood of conflict and encourages the joint resolution of other problems, including the climate and environmental crises.

When countries share resources and goods instead of hoarding or appropriating them, they also gradually move away from the logic of unlimited wealth accumulation and perpetual economic growth. The purpose of the economy is then no longer primarily to generate profit, but to meet human needs and protect our shared planetary home.

Nor should we overlook human dignity, which is often denied to people living in extreme poverty. A fairer distribution of goods strengthens mutual trust, solidarity, and the sense of belonging to one human family. In this way, it increases the prospects for peace, genuine development, and the well-being of the entire world.

These are only a few of the advantages that the sharing economy offers in comparison with today’s inadequate economic models, which are largely based on selfishness, greed, competition, and accumulation.

Why, then, should we not give the sharing economy a chance?